Yu-gi-oh/RWBY Season 2 Chapter 15
Wrath of the Gods
It was the last of the money that Coco had. After this, she would no longer have any of her parent's fortune. She felt that was fitting that this would help her finally confront her parent's killers after all this time. Sure, they weren't the ones who had pulled the trigger, but they gave the order. So she wanted them dead all the same. She got into the plane and the pilot took off. One way or another, it all ends today at the floating castle no one else can see.
...
"EVERYBODY LISTEN! IT'S THE SEMIFINALS OF THE WORLD RACING GRAND PRIX! WHO WILL MOVE ON TO FACE TEAM NEW WORLD IN THE FINALS, TEAM 5DS OR TEAM RAGNAROK?"
"What do we know about them?" Ruby asked. "Unfortunately, very little." Pyrrha explained. "They've kept the secrets to their Nordic gods very well hidden, even when participating in other tournaments, but one thing is known; they're very powerful. As powerful as the 3 Divine Relics, some say." That made Ruby feel uneasy. They only beat Zushin by the skin of their teeth and some trickery, and that was only one "god". Now they had to face three.
Yang didn't care how powerful these new gods were; she had a score to settle. As she lined up with Nora, she looked over to her opening hand and almost couldn't believe her eyes. She looked over to Nora, who looked at her with the same expression. Somehow, they both had the exact same hand as before; when Nora had to throw the match for her father. They both grinned. Now they could fight for real.
"RIDING DUEL, ACCELERATION!"
Nora decides to let Yang go forward, so she can take the first duel, just like the previous duel. Yang accepts the invitation without hesitation. "I draw! I summon Top Runner!" A robot bearing a medal runs forward. (Level 4/1100) "I set two cards and end my turn." "I draw!" Nora replies. (Nora 0-1, Yang 0-1) "I summon Garmr of the Nordic Beasts!" A red-coated dog appears. (Level 4/800) "I set a card and end my turn."
Yang draws her card, seeing that once again, history has repeated itself. (Nora 1-2, Yang 1-2) "I summon Burning Muscle!" (Level 4/2000) "I tune my level 4 Burning Muscle with my level 4 Top Runner! As life inches closer to death, the heart beats stronger and stronger. Synchro summon! Celica Burst Dragon!" (Level 8/3000)
When I attacked with Celica last time, you didn't activate your face-down. Will you do so this time? Yang wondered. "Celica Burst Dragon, attack Garmr. Heartbeat burst!" The dragon flies towards the dog, and Nora finally lets loose. "I activate my face-down, Nordic Relic Brisingamen!" An intricate necklace appears over Garmr. "Until the end phase, Garmr's attack becomes equal to that of Celica." Garmr becomes wrapped in a flaming double of Celica. (Garmr 800-3000) "And if Garmr destroys a monster in battle this turn, you'll take damage equal to the destroyed monster's attack!"
"OH NO! AND IT'S TOO LATE FOR YANG TO BACK OUT OF THE ATTACK! WHAT WILL SHE DO NOW?"
Yang smirks. She wasn't going to let a small setback like this trip her up. "I activate my face-down, Reaction Summon! Since your monster's attack changed, I can summon one level 4 or lower monster from my graveyard! Return, Top Runner!" The robotic runner reappears from the grave. "Top Runner's effect gives all synchro monsters I control 600 attack!" (Celica Burst Dragon 3000-3600) The dragon continues its attack, and pierces through Garmr. (Nora 4000-3400)
Nora looks on in satisfaction. She had hoped that Yang would put up more of a fight. "Since a monster I control was destroyed, I can summon Tanngnjostr of the Nordic Beasts!" A black goat appears from the dust. (Level 3/1100) "I set a card and end my turn." Yang concludes.
...
"Hey, why are you jumping off here? Are you crazy" The pilot asked Coco. She said nothing as she readied the parachute and jumped out, aiming for the thing nobody else could see. At just the right time, she activated her parachute, letting her fall with more precision and control. As she neared the floating castle, she hoped it was actually real and not a figment of her admittedly loose sanity. Otherwise, she would be taking a very embarrassing swim out of the river.
As luck would have it, that was not the case, and she landed on the structure with little issue. She uncoupled the parachute and examined her surroundings. It was almost unbelievable; the whole thing was an exact replica of Satellite. As she was taking in her surroundings, she heard a whirring sound behind her. Coco turned around and saw several drones flying towards her, led by that madman Placido. "Intruder! I don't know how you discovered the Divine Temple, but you will be destroyed all the same!" And so Coco ran for her life.
...
"Not bad, former Queen of Duels." Nora taunts. "I heard you lost that title to your own sister. To think I lost to someone so easily beaten!" Yang refused to give a reaction, not wanting to give Nora what she wanted. "That little taunt would have worked on me back then, but I've moved past that. I don't care about titles or glory! I fight for a greater cause now!"
Nora lost her smirk and slammed her duel runner into Yang's. "You expect me to believe that? You think anyone would buy that Yang Xiao Long is some big hero? I'll prove you wrong! I'll show you're nothing but a fraud! I draw!" (Nora 2-3, Yang 2-3) "I first switch Tanngnjostr to attack mode." The black goat adopts an aggressive stance. "Since its battle mode was changed, Tanngnjostr lets me summon its twin, Tanngrisnir!" Tanngnjostr bleats, and its white counterpart answers the call. (Level 3/1200)
"Next, since you control a synchro monster, I can summon Guldfaxe from my hand!" (Level 4/1600) Here it comes, Yang worried. "I tune my level 3 Tanngnjostr and Tanngrisnir with my level 4 Guldfaxe! When the door of Asgard opens, the ancient war god will raise up his magical hammer and the very Earth itself will shake as he appears from a roar of thunder! Synchro summon! Descend, Thor, Lord of the Aesir!" The mighty Norse god descends from the sky, much larger that he was in Nora and Yang's previous encounter. (Level 10/3500)
"AWE-INSPIRING! NORA HAS SUMMONED HER MIGHTY GOD CARD, THOR! WHAT GREAT POWERS WILL IT SHOW?"
"I'll show you!" Nora answered, her Rune Eye glowing. "I activate Thor's effect to steal the effect of Top Runner until the end phase. Effect Absorber!" Thor points his hammer at Top Runner, and a band of light flies from Top Runner to Thor. "Now, since Thor has Top Runner's effect, he gains 600 attack!" (Thor 3500-4100) "Thor, it's time to settle the score once and for all! Attack Celica Burst Dragon with Thunder Pile!" Thor throws his hammer and it flies through Celica Burst Dragon, causing an explosion on contact that shatters the glass railing of the bridge. (Yang 4000-2900) "I end my turn, causing Thor's effect to wear off." (Thor 4100-3500)
Back in their racing pit, Team 5Ds does a terrible job hiding their worry. "You're the mythology nerd. How do we beat Thor?" Weiss asks Whitley. "In Norse mythology, Thor is fated to die in battle with the giant serpent Jormungardr at the end of the world. But Jormungardr is also supposed to keep the world stable by holding it together with its tail." "So our hope is to destroy the world." Ruby muses.
Yang soothes her right arm, her dragon mark flaring. This power is very real. I'll need to fight with everything I have. "I draw!" (Nora 3-4, Yang 3-4) Can't do anything right now, though. I need to just survive for one more turn. "I set a monster face-down and switch Top Runner to defense mode." Top Runner changes its stance, running alongside Yang instead of running ahead. "I set a card face-down and end my turn."
Nora laughs. "That's about all you can do before a god! I draw!" (Nora 4-5, Yang 4-5) "I activate Thor's effect to steal Top Runner's effect again." Thor once again absorbs the light of Top Runner's ability. (Thor 3500-4100) "I then activate my face-down Nordic Relic Mjollnir!" Thor's hammer glows with lightning. "This turn, Thor can attack twice and deal 1000 damage to you each time it destroys a monster by battle. Wipe out her monsters, Thor! Thunder Pile!"
Thor lets loose his hammer, crushing Top Runner and Yang's face-down monster. The shock-waves from the consecutive attacks nearly throws Yang off the bridge. (Yang 2900-1900-900) "I activate my face-down Tuner's Reflect! Since 2 or more of my tuners were destroyed this turn, I can bring them back. Return, Top Runner and Boost Crystal!" Top Runner returns alongside a crystal filled with red energy. (Level 1/300) "Then, you take damage equal to their attack!" Top Runner grabs the crystal and throws it towards Nora. (Nora 3400-2000) Nora shrugs off the damage without care. "You're stalling. I set a card and end my turn."
Yang knew she was wrong. Everything was in place, and she was going to prove it. Right here, right now. "I draw!" (Nora 5-6, Yang 5-6) "I activate my face-down Call of the Haunted, returning my Celica in attack mode!" (Celica 3000-6100-6700) "Your monster is useless against a god!" Nora protests. "I activate my face-down Raging Sacred Curse!" A group of blue glowing chains surround Celica. (Celica 6700-4700) "Your monster loses 2000 attack and defense, and is unaffected by your spells and traps. I also activate my face-down Solemn Authority, preventing your traps from affecting all divine-beasts I control for two turns."
"Why bother?" Penny asked. "Celica is still strong enough to defeat Thor." Ruby and Blake both shared a look. They both thought there was something still missing. Yang, however, was not as worried. "I activate the effect of my Boost Crystal! By reducing the level of Celica by one, I can destroy one spell or trap you control. Then, I'll take 1000 damage." (Celica Level 8-7) "Ha! You're giving up that easily?" Nora laughed. "Or were you hoping on leaving this to your teammates?"
Yang simply smiled as Boost Crystal fired a shot at Solemn Authority, destroying it. The resulting wave hit Yang, pushing her back. (Yang 900-0) Nora breathed a sigh of relief. After all these years, she had finally gotten the win she deserved. However, she heard something behind her. Yang seemed to be literally ablaze. "When my life points hit 0, I can synchro summon my best monster by banishing the synchro materials from my field or graveyard. I double tune my level 7 Celica Burst Dragon with my level 1 Boost Crystal and my level 4 Top Runner! The approach of death only brings Life to its apex! Burn away the pain and proclaim your dominance! Synchro Summon! Appear, Celica Nova Dragon!" (Level 12/4000)
"Double Tuning?" Nora repeats, dumbfounded. "While I control Celica Nova Dragon, I can't lose the duel, and it gains Celica Burst Dragon's attack! Burning Survival!" (Celica Nova Dragon 4000-7000) "Celica Nova Dragon, attack Thor with Life-Force Explosion!" Celica's entire body set ablaze as it wrestled with Thor, before punching through the god, creating a vast explosion. (Nora 2000-0)
...
Coco dashed through the streets as Placido gave chase. She had to admit; she was running out of options. The chase led them into a dead end, and Coco could only look behind her as her pursuer stopped. "I've been in a really bad mood lately, so I'm going to take it out on you. But first, let's make sure you don't have any tricks up your sleeves." One of the drones approached Coco, its guns drawn. But as Coco was sure she was going to die, the drone stopped and just seemed to look at her. Placido noticed that and glared at the rebellious drone. "Obey me, you flying hunk of scrap. Tear her to shreds." Instead, the drone flew away, with the rest of the drones following. Coco barely had a second to thank her luck when a bright light shone behind her. She turned around and saw a white door with a strange symbol on it. Placido, recognizing the symbol, bowed before Coco before walking away. Baffled, Coco decided to open the door. She would not regret it.
...
"WHAT A CLASH! THE BATTLE BETWEEN A NORSE GOD AND AN AZTEC DEVIL CONCLUDES IN A FIERY FINISH, WITH YANG COMING OUT ON TOP! EMERALD SUSTRAI WILL NOW TAKE NORA'S PLACE!"
Nora smiled at Yang. "I guess this is the power of the former Queen of Games, huh?" Yang shakes her head. "No. This is the power of the signers." Nora chuckles. "When did you get sentimental? By the way, one last thing." As Nora talked, the ground beneath them started to shake. Yang looked to her right, where the shaking seemed to originate from, and the sight was breathtaking. The river itself seemed to be splitting, with Thor rising out of the split. "Every end phase, Thor returns from the graveyard if it was destroyed this turn. It would also deal 800 damage to you, but that seems to be a little pointless. Good luck, Yang Xiao Long."
Nora returned to her pit, with Emerald waiting on her own duel runner. Nora was quick to hand her the active duelist tag and Emerald was just as quick to enter the track. Ren looked at Nora with one of his famously cold analytical gazes. "Did you finally get the closure you were looking for?" He asked. Nora looked up to the sky, feeling the past rise up and wash away like the tide. "Yeah, I did."
As Emerald raced to meet Yang, she knew that she'd have to focus on taking out Celica Nova Dragon if she wanted to have any real progress. Luckily, she had just the card in her opening hand to do so. "I draw!" (Emerald 6-7, Yang 6-7) "I set two cards and activate Thor's effect to steal your monster's effect." Thor, however, doesn't respond, earning a chuckle from Yang. "Sorry. But Celica Nova Dragon can't be targeted or destroyed by your card effects. She's not going anywhere."
"Don't be so sure. I activate the speed spell Trap Recycle." Emerald responded. "By removing 4 speed counters," (Emerald 7-3) "I can activate one trap from my graveyard. I choose Nordic Relic Brisingamen!" The necklace from before appears around Thor's neck. "Now, Thor, attack Celica Nova Dragon with Thunder Pile!" As Thor did so, a fiery double of Celica Nova Dragon enveloped him. (Thor 3500-7000) The two monsters cancel each other out, and the flames around Yang die out.
"WHAT A SHOCK! EMERALD WIELDS NORA'S GOD CARD WITH SUCH FINESSE! YANG IS KNOCKED OUT AND BLAKE WILL TAKE HER PLACE!"
As Yang returns to the dueling pit, Thor rises from the ocean again. "I'll be honest." Yang warns Blake as she hands over the active duelist tag. "This just went from bad to worst." "Don't worry. I'll figure something out." Blake assures her as she rides out to join Emerald. If destroying Thor only makes it worse, I'll just have to find other ways to get rid of him. Or around him. Of course, she knew it wouldn't be that easy. Emerald taught her everything she knew about surviving in Satellite, including dueling.
"I draw!" (Emerald 3-4, Blake 7-8) "I banish the Dark attribute Boost Crystal from my graveyard to summon Bone Masher!" A skeletal horse rides in. (Level 6/1800) "I then summon Gambol Cat." (Level 2/0) "I tune my level 6 Bone Masher with my level 2 Gambol Cat! Shadows dance upon the midnight plain. Rise and command them to victory! Synchro summon! Appear, Gambol Shroud Dragon!" (Level 8/2500) Gambol Shroud roars at Thor, who raises his hammer in response. Both duelists feel their marks resonate.
Despite the pressure, Blake continues. "The effect of Gambol Cat activates, placing it in my back row as a continuous spell." Gambol Cat perches itself on Gambol Shroud's shoulder. "I activate the speed spell Dark Gateway. By removing speed counters equal to the level of Gambol Shroud, my monster can attack directly!" (Blake 8-0) Two dark portals appear, one in front of Gambol Shroud, and one in front of Emerald. "Gambol Shroud, attack Emerald directly! Mad Shadow Dance!" The dragon flies through the portal to appear in front of Emerald.
Emerald scoffs. "Pathetic. You know you can't take out Thor so you're trying for me instead. I taught you that move. You think that I wouldn't account for that? I activate Trap Tracks! By destroying a monster I control, I can set a trap directly from my deck, and it can be activated this turn, but I can't activate any other traps this turn. See you soon, Thor!" The Norse god explodes in a flash of light, and a new trap appears on Emerald's field.
Crap, Blake thought. What could that be? Deciding not to be afraid, Blake declares, "Gambol Shroud continue the attack!" Gambol Shroud complies, scratching at Emerald without obstacle. (Emerald 4000-1500) "Again, incredibly predictable. I activate my new face-down, The Golden Apples. When I take battle damage while I have no monsters, not only will my life points be restored," (Emerald 1500-4000) "but I'll also gain a Malus token with the same attack and defense." A shimmering, mocking shadow appears. (Level 1/0) Blake, embarrassed by her mistake, admits "You got the better of me this time. I set three cards and end my turn." As she does, Thor rises from the ocean again and shoots a bolt of lightning that courses through Blake's body. (Blake 4000-3200)
"IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR BLAKE! NOT ONLY HAS EMERALD UNDONE ALL HER PROGRESS, BUT DEALT SOME DAMAGE OF HER OWN! SOMETHING TELLS ME THAT BLAKE'S TROUBLES ARE FAR FROM OVER!"
"I draw!" (Emerald 4-5, Blake 0-1) "I summon Ljosalf of the Nordic Alfar!" A lithe blue fairy appears. (Level 4/1400) "Alfar?" Ruby asks curiously. "The various elves and dwarves of mythology." Whitley explains. "They had many powerful abilities and were often tricksters." Emerald continued the duel. "When Ljosalf is summoned, I can summon another monster from my hand with a level equal to or lower than that of all of my monsters. Since I control a level 4 and a level 1 monster, I can summon the level 5 Svartalf of the Nordic Alfar." A small, reddish fairy appears. (Level 5/1400)
Emerald's Nordic eye glows as she smiles. "Time to remind you who's the trickster here. I tune my level 4 Ljosalf and my level 1 Malus token with my level 5 Svartalf! The god that was born from the stars, show us your absolute power and make the world laugh! Synchro summon! Descend, Loki, Lord of the Aesir!" A man in royal clothing with a wicked smiles descends from the clouds. (Level 10/3300)
"NOW EMERALD HAS SUMMONED A SECOND GOD! HOW CAN BLAKE POSSIBLY ESCAPE?"
"Thor, steal Gambol Shroud's effect!" Thor points his hammer at the dragon, and a light starts to emerge from Gambol Shroud. "Not so fast!" Blake interrupts. "I activate my face-down Hiding Technique! I can banish Gambol Shroud until the end phase!" Gambol Shroud starts to fade away, but Emerald shakes her head. "Not gonna work. I activate my face-down Imperial Iron Wall. No cards can be banished while it's face-up." Gambol Shroud reappears.
"Now, Thor, attack Gambol Shroud with Thunder Pile!" The god throws his hammer, crushing Gambol Shroud. All the while, Gambol Cat creates a protective blanket over Blake. "With Gambol Cat, I can negate battle damage when Gambol Shroud is attacked." "But now you're wide open. Loki, finish her off with Vanity Bullet!" Loki points his finger, and a dark sphere of energy appears at the end of it. The sphere flies towards Blake. "I activate my face-down Scrap-Iron Scarecrow, negating the attack."
Emerald shakes her head. "Don't you get it? Nothing works against the gods. I activate Loki's effect. Once per turn, when Loki attacks, I can negate one spell or trap and destroy it!" The sphere breaks through the scarecrow and continues its path. "I activate the effect of Bone Masher in my graveyard. By banishing it, the damage I take is reduced by its attack!" The skeletal horse blocks the attack, but it still hits Blake. (Blake 3200-1550)
Emerald glares at Blake. "I honestly can't say I'm surprised by your pitiful attempts." "That was the plan." Blake smiles. "I figured I would face you this duel, and that you would try to prove you were better than me. That meant negating my traps and tricks. So I included a little something just for this. I activate my face-down Prankster's Return! All of my cards that were destroyed this turn are returned to the field, and you take damage equal to the combined attack of all monsters summoned this way!" Scrap-Iron Scarecrow and Hiding Technique are set back on Blake's side of the field, and Gambol Shroud reappears and fires a black beams at Emerald. (Emerald 4000-1500)
As the rest of Team 5d's cheers Blake on, Emerald realizes she was played for a fool. "Fine. I'll just wipe you out next turn. I set a card and end my turn." Blake steels herself. Everything depends on this next draw. (Emerald 5-6, Blake 1-2) "Since I have two or more speed counters, I activate my speed spell Recessive Shot! By lowering Gambol Shroud's attack by 500 until the end phase," (Gambol Shroud 2500-2000) "I can destroy one spell or trap you control. I choose Imperial Iron Wall!" Gambol Shroud fires a shot that destroys Emerald's trap.
"Normally I would be pretty foolish to attack your monster with my own so much weaker." Blake grins. "I'll do it any way. Gambol Shroud, attack Thor!" The dragon flies towards Thor, seemingly headed for a collision course. "I then activate the effect of Gambol Cat. By sending it to the graveyard when Gambol Shroud attacks, the battle damage is reflected back at you." Gambol Cat flies into Thor, inverting his colors. Emerald, now letting the panic settle into her eyes, says "I activate my face-down Revenge Blast! When I take battle damage, you take the same amount of effect damage!" (Emerald 1500-0) (Blake 1550-0)
...
Coco was in a white void, the only thing of substance was the floor below her and the spitting image of her father in front of her. "D-Dad?" She asks hesitantly, hoping it isn't too good to be true. "Not quite. I merely scanned your memories to recreate his image. But I assure you. It is very possible to bring both him and your mother back." Coco's heart quickened at such a thought. "Really?" "Yes. Such power is not beyond my capabilities. However, you would have to do something for me in exchange." "Anything. Name it, it's yours!" "Soon, the signers will come here and oppose me and my plans. You must stop them. Can I count on you, Coco Adel?" Coco needed no time to answer.